Chapter 570 Daddy is Still Alive
Patricia lingered in the twilight, her heart heavy with hesitation, reluctant to return to the solitude of her hotel room. It was only when her phone buzzed with an incoming video call from Charles that she was pulled from her reverie.
"Mom," Charles' voice rang out from the screen, "Everything's in order now. Do you have a computer nearby, or perhaps a tech-savvy companion?"
Patricia's thoughts immediately darted to James. Although he wasn't a programmer by trade, his knowledge of systems far surpassed her own.
"I'm not at the hotel at the moment," she responded, "But I'll return shortly and contact you then."
"Alright," Charles responded, flashing a thumbs-up at the screen. Before ending the call, he added a word of caution, "Mom, you're all alone in a foreign country. Please refrain from venturing out alone unless absolutely necessary. If you find yourself in trouble, you won't have anyone to turn to. We worry about you, you know?"
Patricia swept her phone around, capturing the bustling shopping mall on camera.
"Look around," she said, "This place is teeming with people. I'm perfectly safe. Besides, I'm a grown woman. I can take care of myself. Don't worry."
Charles rolled his eyes at her dismissively. "Age doesn't make you invincible, Mom! You're in a crowded place now, but what about your journey back? Will there always be people around? Even if there are, strangers might not feel compelled to help a foreigner in distress."
Patricia felt a prick of annoyance. Was her son belittling her?
Undeterred, Charles continued, "You're an adult, yet you're still causing us worry. Don't end the call. I'll accompany you back."
Patricia was resolute. "That's unnecessary! The hotel is less than 500 meters away. Besides, what could you possibly do if something were to happen? Leap through the phone to my rescue?"
Charles retorted, "At the very least, I'd be able to provide a description of the perpetrator to aid in your search."
Overruled and somewhat exasperated, Patricia was left with no choice but to keep the video call active, engaging in light banter with Charles as she made her way back to the hotel.
Upon seeing Patricia on the screen, Randy and Fannie rushed over, their small faces crowding the phone's display.
Their lively chatter served as a welcome distraction for Patricia, her spirits lifting considerably.
Upon reaching the hotel, Patricia was still on the call. As she entered, the camera panned over James, who was passing by.
"Why are you only returning now?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. With Hunter's whereabouts still unknown, he had been restless, fearing Patricia might cross paths with him again. He had even contemplated venturing out to find her if she didn't return soon.
Patricia offered him an apologetic smile, pointing to her phone and indicating with her eyes that she was on a video call.
James understood, casting her a lingering glance before retreating to the couch. He reopened his laptop, immersing himself in his work once more.
Charles narrowed his eyes, his voice deep with suspicion as he asked, "Mom, who was that man just now?"
His mind was a whirlwind of confusion. The figure he'd seen bore an uncanny resemblance to his father. But that was impossible. His father was dead, wasn't he? And what would he be doing with his mother in America?
Patricia, in response, adjusted the camera angle, directing the webcam towards James. The sight that greeted Charles, Randy, and Fannie was enough to make their eyes widen in shock. "Daddy, is that really you?" they exclaimed in unison.
Despite the distance of the camera, they recognized him instantly. Their father. Even the briefest glimpse of a hand or a fragment of his figure was enough for them to identify him.
When the children called out 'Daddy,' Patricia was flooded with a complex mixture of emotions. Yet, she managed to maintain her composure. After all, she too had once mistaken him for Martin, hadn't she?
"No, he's not your father," Patricia explained, her voice steady. "He's a friend of Alan's who came all the way here to help out during our difficult times. Thanks to him, the company survived the crisis."
Charles, however, was unyielding in his conviction. "That's impossible, I can't be wrong! Call him over; I need to verify this myself."
He trusted his mother not to lie to him, but the resemblance was uncanny. Incredibly so. He couldn't fathom the existence of two people who looked so alike, barring identical twins.
Patricia, unable to counter her son's determination, called out to James, "James, could you come over here for a moment? My son wants to meet you."
Charles frowned at the mention of the name. "James?" There was something unsettling about it.
James, upon hearing Patricia's call, paused before asking, "Your son?" Patricia saw his lips move but couldn't make out his words, prompting her to raise her eyebrows in confusion. James pointed to his ear, and Patricia suddenly understood. She had been wearing Bluetooth earphones during the noisy video call with Charles, which explained why James hadn't heard their conversation.
Patricia quickly handed her cellphone to James, explaining, "They said you look a lot like their father, so they want to chat with you."
At that moment, the camera was set to rear-facing mode. James could see the three children huddled together on the screen, their large, eager eyes staring back at him. Their anticipation tugged at his heartstrings, and before he knew it, his eyes were welling up with tears.
He missed them terribly, so much that it hurt. But he couldn't let them see his pain, especially Charles. Charles was too smart; he would notice. But if he didn't take the call, Charles would grow suspicious. It was a lose-lose situation.
Charles, growing impatient, asked, "Mommy, where is he? Why can't we see him? Hurry up and turn the camera around."
Patricia realized her mistake and moved to adjust the camera. But as she reached out, James shoved the phone back into her hands, his voice cold as he stated, "I don't like chatting with strangers." He had to maintain an indifferent facade, even if it felt like his heart was being ripped apart.
Patricia was taken aback. "They are my children. They're wonderful. Give them a little time, and you'll see."
"Sorry, there's no need!" James retorted, picking up the laptop and heading towards the balcony. Patricia watched him go, her heart twisting painfully in her chest.
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